Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address

Coretta Scott King
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Harvard’s 1968 Class Day Address: We May Yet Not Only Survive—We May Triumph - Jun. 12, 1968
June 12, 1968
Gentlemen of the graduating class of 1968, your parents and friends. It is indeed a humbling experience for me to have been invited by you to give your Class Day address. In trying to perform this awesome task which my late husband would have done with great ease, I feel a deep sense of inadequacy. Nonetheless the confidence and faith which you have placed in me is a source of encouragement and inspiration. In these days when young people want so earnestly to make their own decisions, it is most […]
Debbie A Stabenow
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Albion College Commencement Address - May 3, 2025
May 3, 2025
Well, good afternoon! It's so exciting to be here and I'm very honored to receive this degree and most importantly to have an opportunity to be here with the class of 2025. You did it! Congratulations! And congratulations to your family and friends who are all here to share the celebration as well. No one gets to this day on their own and I know that today's graduates are so thankful for all of you, for your patience and your love and your support. And I know that all the […]
Tina Smith
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Hamline University Commencement Address – May 17, 2025
May 17, 2025
Well, good morning, Pipers. Good morning. Good morning and hello class of 2025. So thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of this beautiful ceremony. I want to thank interim President Murray and the Board of Trustees. And I start by offering my heartfelt congratulations, congratulations of course to you, the class of 2025. You made it. Also though, I want to offer congratulations to the faculty and administrators and staff of Hamline who made this special day possible. And congratulations to the family and friends […]
Rachel Carson
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Of Man and the Stream of Time – June 12, 1962
June 12, 1962
Carson gave this speech as the 1962 commencement address at Claremont College. As I was carried here so swiftly across the continent by a jet airliner, it occurred to me that I have really been on the way for ten years, for it was that long ago that your President first invited me to come to Scripps College. Through the intervening years, he has renewed that invitation with infinite patience and courtesy. ow at last circumstances have allowed me to accept, and I am very happy to be here. Had […]
Valerie Jarrett
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Williams College Commencement Address - June 8, 2025
June 8, 2025
Thank you, Maude, for that lovely introduction. I am deeply honored to be here with all of you and receive this honorary degree together with my fellow honoree. Good morning, everyone. Oh come on – good morning, everyone! [audience: good morning] That's much better. Class of 2025, both the seniors and the master’s students – congratulations! You did it. But as your class speakers have not acknowledged, you did not do this alone. Congratulations to your family and friends who supported you every step of the way, many of who […]
Peggy Flanagan
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Mitchell Hamline School of Law Commencement Address – May 31, 2025
May 31, 2025
Woo. Well. How you feel? You feel good? [Cheers] I want to point out for a moment – the rowdiest section is right over here [Cheers]. Whomever the graduate is who has family members who literally have your face on t-shirts – y'all are going the extra mile. Thank you so much, Dean Davidson, Board Chair Buck, board, faculty, and the staff of Mitchell Hamlin. As a note of personal privilege, my husband used to work at this law school and he often told me about the many unsung and […]
Kelly Ayotte
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Nashua Community College Commencement Address – May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025
Well, well, thank you very much, President Williams. I am very honored to be here with all of you today. And I want to thank everyone on the dais here, Vice Chancellor Lloyd, Chair Kathy Shields, members of the NCC Advisory Board, faculty, staff, everyone who's brought you here today. It really does take everyone working together. So I want to thank all of you. Most of all, I want to thank the parents, the families, the friends, all of you who have helped our graduates get to where you […]
Mary P McAleese
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Saint Mary's College Commencement Address – May 17, 2025
May 17, 2025
Good afternoon. How are you all? You're good? You're looking really good, looking really good. Can I thank the university first for this honor and to share the platform with two such wonderful sisters and to share it with you, also wonderful sisters, and your families. It's a very, very special and moving day for me. President, trustees, members of the college community and especially today's graduands. Ladies and gentlemen, there literally is no happier day in the life of a college than the day of graduation, when family, friends […]
Maura Healey
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Mount Holyoke College Commencement Address – May 25, 2025
May 25, 2025
Good morning, and thank you so much, President Holley, trustees, faculty, staff, alums. Honorands — it’s truly an honor to be with both of you this morning. Guests, parents, family, friends — where are you out there? Look, you all deserve honorary degrees, too, today for all that you’ve been through. Rest easy knowing that the job is now done — except for helping these incredible graduates move out, of course. And most of all, to the class of 2025 — congratulations. Congratulations! And thank you for allowing me to […]
Angela Alsobrooks
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Bowie State University Commencement Address – May 23, 2025
May 23, 2025
To the super-bad Dr. Breaux, to your faculty, staff, family, and friends of the Class of 2025, thank you for what you have done to teach, inspire and love this year's graduating class. And I'd like to congratulate you, the Class of 2025. You have done the hard work, and today is your reward. You’re prepared to take on the world with your trademark Bowie Boldness. And we’re celebrating you. And we need you and what you’ll offer the world more than ever. You’re ready for what’s next and guess […]